3 N.H. meetings today

Today´s racing in the U.K. obviously comes as a anti-climax after the super Grand National meeting, but there are still some interesting races and it could be significant that Grand National hero Tony McCoy - and several other top jockeys - is in action at Southwell, where he has 3 rides for Jonjo O´Neill: Not a Bob and Aberdale in the two divisions of the maiden hurdle at 16.10 CET and 16.40, and Pine Rock, top weight in the handicap hurdle over 3 miles an hour later. Best race here is the novice chase at 15.40, in which Prince Taime (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) can take advantage of the weight he receives from the two penalised runners Buck Mulligan (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) and Pheidas (Pam Sly/ David England).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Patchoulie Conti - Rash Moment - Sir Bumble
2. Race: Darina`S Boy - Tanners Court - Stop The Show
3. Race: Prince Taime - Buck Mulligan - Greenbelt
4. Race: Horseshoe Reef - Nulato - Everyman
5. Race: Aberdale - Mr Moonshine - Killobee
6. Race: Plunkett - Grand Zouki - Cave Hill
7. Race: Pinerock - Captain Smoothy - Aint She The Lady
8. Race: Yukon Quest - Theredballoon - Mawsem



At Kelso the two class 3 handicaps look very tricky, with large fields. In the chase at 16.50 we expect top-weight Rambling Minster (Keith and James Reveley) to go well, with Texas Holdem (Michael Smith/ Davy Condon) an interesting outsider. In the novice handicap hurdle at 17.20, top-weight Premier Sagas (Nicky Richards/ Brian Harding) is very consistent, while Si Bien (James Ewart/ Harry Haynes) is due for a win after running up the last twice, while German-bred Solis (Peter Monteith/ Ryan Mania) also has a chance off a low weight.

Howard Johnson has some runners with chances at Kelso, but he sends his stable jockey Denis O´Regan to Market Rasen, where he can score with Key Time in the handicap hurdle at 16.30. With two late withdrawals, there are now only 3 runners in the novice chase at 17.00, which looks at the mercy of Latanier (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman). The best horse on view in the U.K. today could well be Conquisto (Steve Gollings/ Keith Mercer), who runs in the novice hurdle here at 16.00. Quite a useful performer on the flat for Clive Cox, he was a most impressive winner last time at Fakenham and could well prove a valuable recruit to N.H. racing.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Bishops Heir - Quatro Pierji - Pyracantha
2. Race: St Killian`S Run - Paddys Unyoke - Bob`S Dream
3. Race: Caerlaverock - Soft Spoken Guy - Little Promise
4. Race: Drever Route - Nelson Du Ronceray - Waterski
5. Race: Si Bien - Premier Sagas - Patriot
6. Race: Pangbourne - Ossmoses - What Of It
7. Race: Nuts N Bolts - Freddie Brown - Djarouda